Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Allen, Karzai Condemn Insurgent Violence

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2012 – The commander of the International Security Assistance Force joined with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in condemning a recent spate of insurgent violence in Afghanistan.

Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen offered condolences to the Afghan people for the “desperate acts of murder by insurgents.”

At least six Afghans and an ISAF service member died in insurgent attacks yesterday. In the most recent attack, a man wearing an Afghan police uniform shot and killed an ISAF member in southern Afghanistan.

In other attacks yesterday:

-- A vehicle bearing a homemade bomb exploded when it rammed a district police station in Kandahar, killing two policemen and wounding four Afghan civilians.

-- A roadside bomb killed four civilians, including a child, in Kandahar’s Shah Wali Kot district when the victims drove over a roadside bomb.

"My sincere thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and injured in these attacks against the people of Afghanistan," Allen said. "On behalf of the coalition of 50 nations within ISAF, I send condolences to the loved ones concerned and pray for a swift recovery for the injured.

"These incidents again show the insurgency's total disregard for the Afghan people and disdain for peace," he continued. "The lack of concern for the peace and security of the Afghan people, and the continued killing of innocents, sends an obvious message by the insurgents: the Taliban do not care who or how many of their fellow Afghans are killed."

Allen said the attacks show insurgents’ growing concern about an increasingly capable Afghan police force, as the attacks are conducted from a distance “to avoid certain capture.”

"The insurgents should be concerned,” the general said. “We -- ISAF and [Afghan security forces] together -- will continue in our efforts to hold these murderers to account."

-- An Afghan and coalition security force in the Kunduz district of Kunduz province Feb. 18 captured a Taliban leader who directed the placement of explosives targeting Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In the Sabari district of Khost province, an Afghan-led security force confiscated bomb-making materials and weapons and detained suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani leader who directs roadside-bomb and direct-fire attacks against Afghan forces.